Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz calls Lahore college rape claims a 'fabricated case'

Punjab CM says the girl's mother wants those responsible for fabricating the story to be exposed and punished.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has dismissed claims of a rape case involving a student at a private college in Lahore, stating that the incident was fabricated.

She explained that after the story went viral, an investigation was conducted, which took several days, and concluded that no such incident occurred.

During a press conference in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz stated, "I chaired the final meeting of the investigative committee and am presenting the facts. I am both a mother and the chief executive of this province, and protecting the dignity of women is my responsibility. The police received a report claiming that a student at a private college in Punjab had been raped."

She further said "The incident was reported to have occurred on the 10th, but the girl had been hospitalised since the 2nd after a serious fall that left her critically injured and admitted to the ICU. She was wrongly portrayed as a rape victim."

Maryam Nawaz added that she spoke to the girl's mother, who is deeply distressed.

The mother stated that she has four more daughters who are yet to be married and expressed that she does not want anything but for those responsible for fabricating this story to be exposed and punished.

The Punjab CM stated, "The students reported that such an incident had occurred, and false accusations were made on social media, creating an issue without any foundation. A campaign was run by misleading the students. I have concluded that after repeated failures of rallies and protests, a despicable and dangerous plan was devised. This was done at a time when the SCO summit is taking place and heads of state are present here."

She said, "There is a political party called PTI, which I call a terrorist organization. This is their agenda. They orchestrated this conspiracy and used children, making their loyal journalists and vloggers issue statements. A girl was presented as an eyewitness, claiming she heard noises and that rooms in the basement were locked, after which Rescue 1122 was called."

Maryam Nawaz added, "We conducted an investigation, and 1122 was not called on that day or in the following days. I obtained videos of the basement, and there are no locks there. Moreover, the girl presented as eyewitness is not even from that campus. When she said, 'I’m not from this campus, her statement was edited."

At this point,the Punjab chief minister presented the girl in video before the media.

The Chief Minister of Punjab said that the girl had been treated in two or three hospitals, and on the day the incident was reported, she wasn’t at the college but in the hospital.

The guard who was accused was on leave, and the police arrested him from Sargodha and conducted an investigation.

It was alleged that the footage was removed, but the protesting students were brought in without fully understanding the issue.

Maryam Nawaz stated that there was no witness to the rape incident because no such incident took place.

She added that, "Later, they continued searching for the alleged victim, but she was not a victim of rape; she was a victim of dirty politics. A false story was concocted about the girl, and a storm was raised on social media. In one video, it was falsely claimed that the girl had passed away, but that statement was proven false. The person who spread the fake news later retracted their statement and issued another video clarification."

The Chief Minister said that the police wanted the girl to become the complainant, but she preferred that the government take the lead in the case.

"There will be a crackdown against anyone involved, whether they are journalists, members of PTI, or PML-Q," Maryam Nawaz said.

At this point, PTI leader Zartaj Gul’s sister, Professor Shabnam Gul of Lahore College for Women, also addressed the media.

Seated besides the Punjab CM she said, "I was called in for the investigation. I did not come forward for any political party. I was the convener of the sexual harassment committee. In the investigation, I clarified that I did not incite the students; in fact, I calmed them down. This is a very sensitive matter. The girls had gathered, and I advised them to go to the Vice Chancellor. I was not part of any protest. This incident happened immediately, and when I informed the Vice Chancellor, they told me to stop it. However, I believe that someone from outside influenced the girls, leading them to become part of the protest."